Grab



Aus. 10,1925; 1,5m*

A'. E- NORRls GRAB ' Filed sept. 9. 1921 5 sheets-'sheet 1 Aug. 10,1926.. 1,595,568

A. E. NoRRls GRAB Filed Sept, 9, 1921 5 Sheets-$11691. 2

/Aa I @veri/i021: www E.No212u/.s.

Aug. 10 1926.

1,595,568 A. E. NoRRls GRAB Filed sept. 9, 1921 s sheets-sheet Iuvenior: h/non E jYorws @www 1,595,553 A. E. NORRIS I GRAB ' Filed Spia. 1921 5 Sheets-Sh. eet 4 Aug. 1o 1926. 1,595,568

v A. E. NoRRls GRAB Filed Sept. 9, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 v lui/(env: filmen/E'. Norris,

Patented Aeg. 1o, 192e. i 1,595,568

UNITED STATES PATENT '.oFFicE.- y

ALMON E. NOIR/RIS, OF IBROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

y GRAB.

Application filed September 9, 1921. lSerial No; 499,395.

This invention relates to grabs and is for convenience of manufacture are' formed more especially, though not exclusively, conseparately, and are suitably secured to the cerned with single rope clam-shell buckets. hinge pieces as by sets of flush rivets r26 and The invention will be best understood by 26. Each frame presents a generally U- 60 reference to the following description when shaped support for the upper marginfof its takenv in connection with the accompanying scoop on its sides as well as its ends. The drawings of one specific embodiment thereof, frames are suitably secured to 'their respecwhile its vscope will be more particularly Ative scoops as by fastening elements received y pointed out in the appended claims. in perforations therein. ln the present ex- 65 1U In the drawings: t ample, .the end plates and jaws are provided Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a grab eff'- with sets of perforations 28 and 28,registeremplifying the invention, showing the same ing with corresponding perforations 30 and in its closed position; Y 30 provided in the hinge pieces 22 and 22,

2 is an end elevation of the grab and receiving bolts 32 and 32, while the l0 showing the same in its open position; plates 18 and 18 arefprovided with perfora- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the `grab tions 34and 34, registering with correspond as viewed from the right-hand side -of Fig. ing perforations 36 and 86 in the connecting 1; kportions 24 and 24', respectively, and re- Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line ceiving bolts 34 and 34. If at anytime the 4-4 of Fig. 1; s scoops should become damaged and require Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional viewon an replacement, this can be accomplished withenlarged scale ofl a mechanism for locking out dismounting any parts of the operating the grab in its closed'position, this view mechanism by simply removing the bolts,

showing the mechanism in its lockedposidetaching the scoops and replacing them by 80 tion; y new ones. This 'can'be done very easily in Fig. (i is a sectional view similar to Fig. the field and without the necessity of send# 5, but showing the latch lever retracted in a ing the grab to the maker. horizontal direction to permit a locking In the present example, the hinge pieces means to lock without swinging movement ofl one scoop are pivoted by being connected 85 of the latch lever; to those of the other scoop by a hinge pin Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 40, best shown in Fig. 4, appropriately held 5, but showing the locking mechanism unin place therein as by nuts 42 threaded onto locked by the operation of its toggle and the ends thereof, and conveniently held the swinging of the latch lever; against accidentaly turning movement by 90 Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line S-8 of l bolts 44 which extend through the nuts and Fig. 5; through the hinge pin. The latter is pref- Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 erably lheld against turning movement in of Fig. 5; and one pair of hinges, herein the hinges 22, as

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the scoops by bolts 46 which extend through-the hinge 95 and the frame detached one from theotlier. pin as well as through the bosses of the Referring to the drawings, and to the emhinges, while onl the other hand the hinge bodiment of the invention which is selected pin turns in the bosses of the other hinges for exemplification and having particular' 22. reference to Fig. 1, there is shown a grab The hinges are preferably provided with m0 havinfa )air of scoo )s 10 and 10 rovided suitable means for limitino the oaenmg with jaws 12 and 12', the latter being suitamovement of the scoops, herein lugs 48 and bly secured as by rivets 14 and 14 to end 48, herein formed integrally therewith and plates 16 and 16. The plates at one end are chambered to receive appropriate cushioning united to those at the other end by curved means such as wooden blocks and 50', 105

50 plates 18 and 18 in any usual manner. whose end grain is presented to the im-v Referring now to Fig. 10, the scoops 10 pact. and 10 are provided respectively with Referring now to Fig. 1, the frames 2O frames designated generally by the numerals and 20 are supported by suitable support- 2O and 20', herein comprising .pairs of ing means, herein pairs of links 52 and 52, 110 hinges 2Q and 22, and connecting partities to which they are pitt-)tally connected -asby and 24! which, in tliepresent pvot pins 54. 5ft", received is pairs et ears 56' and.v 56 preferably formed as; integral parts of the reinforcing bars or stiffeners 24 and 24', respectively, as best shown in Fig. 1.0. The members ot each. pair of links converge toward their upper ends (see Figs. 3 and 4), where they aneA pivoted together by a pin 58, best shown in Fig. 1. The links 52? constitute a frame, and they are rigidly secured to each other, as by tie-bolts 60 and 62, while the links are suitably spaced apart by several spacers, including spacers 64-Y and 66 (see F 8.).

In the 'absence of any means to hold the grab'closed, the jaws will gravitate to an open position represented in Fig. LE2, their opening movement being limited by the stops hereinbefore described. The closing movement of the grab is accomplished by a snitable cable, herein a rope 68, a series of sheave wheels 70, 72 and 74, and a closing lever 76. In the present embodiment, the sheave wheels and 74 are mounted to turn on shafts 78 and 80 carried by the link 52', and the sheave wheels 72 on a shaft hereinafter describedv carried by the closing lever 76. The grab is carriedl in a bight or loop ofv the cable passing over the sheave wheel 74, and leading thence first to a pair of the sheave wheels 72, and then to a pair or" the sheave wheels 70. After passing over the latter, the two leads of the Cable extend in an upward direction, and are secured to a suitable eye 82.

R ferring now to the closing lever 76, the

vlatter is herein aivoted to the secon 10 as by a pin 84, best shown in Fig. 4, which extends through the lever as well as through ears 86 betweenwhich the lever is received.. Thesel ears are preferably formed as integral parts of the connecting portions 24 oit the ira-me.

The grab is normally locked in its closed position by locking` mechanism now to be described, reference being had at first to F ig' 4. vSurrou-nding the hinge pin 40 is a sleeve 88, which may be seenredthereto by bolts 90,*said sleeve beine'y provi'lefA with ears 92 to receive a pin 94. Referring nov.' to Fig. 5, this pin isnormally locked to thc closing lever by being received between what may be likened to a pair oi'` relatively nioable jaws or clamps 96 and 98. one being herein formed as an integral part ot the clos! ing lever '76, and the other 'as a part ot a latch, herein a lever 100. This latch lever is herein mounted on a floating tulcrum 1052, carried by a link 104, and which in turn is hung on a pivot 106 on the closing lever. The 'latch lever therefore has capacity t'or rocking movement on its fulcrum. as well as movement in a generally horizontal direction, a-ccoinfbianving swinging` movement oi' the link 104. li/loveinent toward the lett may be limited by engagement of the. link 104 with the pin 94, las willv be evidentfrom ing two lii an inspection of'F 5, while movement toward the right maybe limited bythe provision ot suitable means, herein stops 1.0?4 carried. by the latch lever Y100, and adapiefl to engage the lower edge et the closinglever,

the latter away from the former, since the latch lever will recede in horizontal fin-ection toward the right, to the posit-ion shown inFig. 6. As soon es the pin 94 is in place, the latch lever will advance to its normal position, where it. will be locked 'against movement about its 'iulcrun by suitable locking means, preferably that now to be dcscribed. i

The latch lever is further connect to the closing lever T6 by a togglecompiis- 108 and 1.10, pivotedl respectively said levers by pivotal pins. 11.2 and 114, and pivoted to earh other by ai pin 11.6. rl`he axes ot these pivots are nerr-.rallj,Y vsubst-antially inY line, and hence the hitch lever is locked against swingingmovement which would otherwise allow the pin 9--1- to be released from between the 9.6 and 98. lVhen, however, the intermediate pivot 116 is mo-vedtoward the righi, tothe position shown in Fie. the ivot 112 is causeiilf to approach the pivot 1.14 and to swing to the right-hand end of therlatch lever in an upware direction, and the lett-hand end in a downward direction, thus releasing` the pin 94 and allowing the grab to open. The e' y ation ot the toggle may be accom in either ot two ways, now to be d One of these ways is by the Vprovimm an arm 118, preferably formed as an in part of the link 108, and provided with Vsnitable means, herein an eye 120, for the attachment of an opgnatingy rope 122, ".vh'ich ezetends therefrom first in a downward dir tion to and overa sheave wheel 124 rotata., mounted between the 126, best sho in Fig. 10, conveniently formed as inte parts ot the connecting portions 24', rope leading thence in an upward direction to and over a sheave wheel 128 rotate mounted in a bracket 130, the latter mounted on pivot presented by the 62 on the closing lever T6. The tree end oi the operating rope. may be led to 1 if venient point7 and when pulled will the toggle to unlock the .i

;rab and allfiw vthe latter to open. lil/'hen the rope is released, the toggle straightens to its normal position, its movement being adjustably limited. by cooperating stops, one being herein a lug 184 conveniently formed integrally with the link 110, and the other being a set screw 136 having screw-threadedl engagement with .the

Varm 118 and ada'ntedA to. Contact with y'said lug. "0n the other hand, movement of the lll) toggle in the opposite direction is limited by suitable cooperating stops, herein a lug 138 conveniently formed as an integral part ol the link 104 and adapted to strike a shoulder 140 formed on the latch lever 106, as shown in Fig. T.

A second way or' operating the toggle will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 5 and 7. A weight 142 is suitably connected to the toggle as by forming the same yon the link 110 on the side of the latter which is opposite to the stops 134 and 136. Herein the lower part of the weight is received between the two sides ot the latch y 142 will cause the latterto continue in a downward direction, thus rocking the link 110 about its ulcrum 114 and causing the toggle to lift the right-hand end of the latch lever and lower the left-hand end, as represented in Fig. 7. This opens the jaws 96 and 9S, and allows the pin 94 to be released therefrom, whereupon the bucket opens to the position represented in Fig. 2. The open bucket lands on the pile of material and immediately the closing lever 7 6 becomes locked to the pin 94, because when the lever descends upon the latter, the latch lever is engaged by the pin and caused to recede toward the right, as shown in Fig. 6, whereupon 'the pin enters between the jaws 96 and 98. The latch lever now advances to the position shown in Fig. 5, and the jaw 9% cooperating with the jaw 96 grips the pin 94 and locks the bucket in its closed position until it is again purposely unlocked.

Preferably suitable provision is made to check the speed of opening movement of the bucket, thereby to prevent it from opening with too great a shock.4 accomplishing this will now be described, reference being had to Figs. 1 and 2. In the present example, I employ a cam 144 and a cooperating roller 146, one carried by the supporting frame and the other by the closing lever. Herein there are two identical cams 144 formed as integral parts of lthe links 52, and there are two rollers 146 conveniently1mounted toturn on a pin 14S which is the shaft on which the sheave wheels 72 are mounted to turn. The exact shape of the cam will depend upon the requirements of the situation, but usually it presents a more or less abrupt shoulder 150, which resists travel of the roller in a downward direction toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1,-that is to say, when the closing lever is released by the described locking mechanism and tends to carrythe pivet 84 in a downward direction about the asis of The mechanism for Y the pivot 54', thereby to open the bucket, the shoulder enforces a swinging movement of the upper end of the closing lever toward the left, thereby aording suiiicient resistance to downward movement of the lever towardthe right to prevent the bucketrom opening with too great a degree of torce. he general operation of the bucket should be evident without further description.

Having'thus described one embodiment of the invention, butwithout limiting myseltl thereto, whatv claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is: v

1. ln a grab, the combination of a pair of pivoted scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivot-ally supported and tend Y to gravitate to an open position, means for locking said scoops in their closed. position, and a weight operated by an abrupt stop in the descent of the grab for causing said scoops to be unlocked.

In a grab, the combination of a pair ot pivoted scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivotally supported and tend to gravitate to an open position, and means for locking said scoops in their closed position, said means including alatch and a ytoggle for locking saidclatch in its scoop locking position.

3. In a grab, the combination of a pair of pivote-d scoops, supporting means onwhich said scoops are pivotally supported and tend to lgravitate to an open position, means for locking said scoops in their closed position, said means including a floating latch lever mounted for lengthwise movement, and

Ymeans for normally locking said latch lever against swinging movement to an unlocking position while still permitting lengthwise movement thereof to cause said locking means to lock without swinging movement of' said latch lever.

4. In a grab, the combination of a pair of pivoted scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivotally supported and tend to gravitate to an open position, means for locking said scoops in their closed position, said means including a latch lever, a link on which said latch lever is tulcrumed and mounted to move lengthwise ot' said lever, and means for normally locking said latch lever against swinging movement to an unlocking position while permitting said link to swing and said lever to be moved length wise to cause said locking means to lock without swinging movement o'lf said latch lever. v

5. In a grab, the combination of a pair of pivoted scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivotally supported and tend to gravitate to an open position, means for locking said scoops in their closed position, said meansv including a latch lever, a link en which said latch lever is uerumed and mounted to move lengthwise, and a toggle for normally locking said latch lever against swinging' movement to an unlock` ing position while permitting said link and toggle to swing and said lever to be moved lengthwise to cause said locking means to lock without swinging movement ot' said latch lever.

6. in a grab, the combination ot a pair ot pivoted scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivotally supported and tend to gravitate to an open position, means tor locking said scoops in their closed position, said means including a latch lever, a link on which said latch lever is tnlcrumed and mounter to move wise. and a toggle tor normally loci d ch lever inst swinging momnm t to unlocking position while permi ip' said linlr and toggle to swing and said lever to be moved lengthwise to cause said locking means to lock without swinging novcment ol said latch lever, and means connected to said toggle to cause the same to unlock said scoops upon a predetermined bodily movement ot the grab.

7. ln a grab, the combination oi. a pair ot scoops, supporting means on which said scoops are pivoted and tend to gravita-.te to an open position, means including a closing` lever for closing said scoops, and means including a cam and a follower, one carried by said lever and the other by said supporting means independently ot' said scoops, to control the opening,v movement of said scoops.

8. ln a grab, the combination of a pair votl pivoted scoops, supporting means including` a pair of links to which said scoops are pivoted, respectively, and on which said scoops tend to `gravitate toward an open position, closing means including a closing lever pivoted to one ot said scoops at a point eccentric to the pivotal connection between such scoop and the link to which it is pivoted, and locking` means including a pair ol jaws and a part receivable therebetween to lock said lever to the jaw to which it is pivoted.

9. ln a grab, the con'ibination ot a 'pair ot pivoted scoops, supporting means including a pair ot linlrs to which said scoops are pivotcd. respectively, and on which said scoops tend to gravitate toward an open position, closing means including a closing lever pivot/ed to one of saic scoops at a point intermediate the pivotal connections between said scoops and said links.l and locking means including a pair of aws and a part receivable therebetween to lock said lever to the jawto which it is pivoted.

l0. ln a grab, the combination oit' a pair of scoops, scoop supporting mea-ns, grab closing means including` a lever mounted to swing relatively to said supporting means, and cooperating means carried by said supporting` means and by said lever to check the opening' movement ot said scoops.

ll. ln a grab, the combination ot a pair of scoops, scoop supporting; means, closing' means including a lever mounted to swinfj relatively to said supporting means, and means including a can. and a follower, one carried by said supporting means and tl e other by said lever to check the opening vement ot said scoops.

12. ln a lgrab, the combination of a pair oit scoops, scoop supporting means, grab `closing means including a lever pivoted to one ot said scoops to swing relatively to such scoop, and means including a cam and a follower cooperating therewith to check swinging movement of said lever relatively to such scoop.

13. ln a grab, the combination'o't a pair ot scoops, scoop supporting means, grabclos- Y ing means including a lever pivoted to `one ot said scoops to swing relatively to such scoop, and means including a cam and a follower cooperating therewith, one carried by said supporting means and the other by said lever to modify the swinging movement ot said lever thereby to check theopening movement ot said scoops.

le. ln a grab, the combination of a pair ot vpivoted scoops, supporting means including a pair ot links to which said scoops are pivoted, respectively, and on which said scoos tend to gravitate toward an open position, closing means including arc'losing lever pivotally connected toV one ot said scoops intermediate the pivotal connection of such scoop with its associated link and the pivotal axisA of said scoop to utilize the weight of said lever -to assist in the opening oi' the grab, and locking means including` a pair ot jaws carried by said lever and a part receivable therebetween and'carried by such scoop normally locking said lever against descent about its pivotal connection with suc-h scoop.

In testimony whereof, l have signed my name to this specification.

ALMON E. NORRIS. 

